By Gabriel Ameh
ABUJA | Media360Impact Report
Connected Development (CODE), in partnership with HumanX, has distributed reusable menstrual pads and educational materials to students of Junior Secondary School, Kuchigoro, Abuja, as part of efforts to improve menstrual hygiene, promote girls’ education and tackle the stigma surrounding menstruation.
The outreach, held on Monday, October 26, 2026, also featured menstrual health education for boys and girls, with participants encouraged to understand menstruation as a natural biological process rather than a disease or a reason to discriminate against girls.
The organisers stressed that boys have an important role to play in creating a supportive school environment where girls can manage their menstrual periods with dignity, confidence and access to appropriate hygiene materials.
Speaking at the event, Amina Unai Lawal, a representative of Connected Development, said the distribution was part of the organisation’s efforts to ensure that girls in underserved communities have access to menstrual hygiene products and can continue attending school comfortably during their periods.
Lawal explained that Kuchigoro Junior Secondary School is among more than 20 schools across Nigeria where CODE operates civic clubs. The organisation has civic clubs in six states and the Federal Capital Territory, including communities such as Kubwa, Tudun Wada and Kuchigoro.
According to her, the initiative goes beyond distributing reusable pads to include reproductive health education and efforts to change negative attitudes towards menstruation.
“Our goal is to ensure that these girls are comfortable being in school even when they are on their period,” she said.
She added that the programme was designed to help girls become more confident about their bodies, understand their menstrual cycles and speak openly about their reproductive health without fear or embarrassment.
Lawal also highlighted the importance of involving boys in the programme, noting that they could become allies in ending menstrual stigma.
She said boys should be able to offer support when a female classmate experiences an unexpected period at school instead of laughing at, isolating or embarrassing her.
The message, she explained, is to encourage boys to respond with understanding and practical assistance when girls need help managing an unexpected menstrual situation.
HUMANX PARTNERS CODE TO REACH UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES
The founder of HumanX, Gbemi Elekula, said the organisation began partnering with CODE in 2025 under an 18-month agreement scheduled to run until the end of 2026.
Elekula explained that the partnership was established because CODE already had grassroots development structures and community networks that could help HumanX deliver reusable menstrual products to girls who need them.
She said the organisations had collaborated on several projects across Kogi State, Bauchi State and the Federal Capital Territory.
According to her, HumanX chose reusable pads because they offer girls a product they can use repeatedly, helping to reduce the pressure of having to obtain disposable menstrual products every month.
Elekula said she found it rewarding to see girls receive the products and participate in menstrual health education, adding that educating boys and men was equally important to ending stigma.
She also observed that the outreach revealed gaps in menstrual health knowledge among some students, including their understanding of menstrual cycles, duration and the changes associated with puberty.
She said HumanX was committed to combining the distribution of reusable pads with education that would help girls make informed decisions about their menstrual health.
UBEC REPRESENTATIVE COMMENDS INITIATIVE
Ibrahim Gold, Special Assistant to the Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Dr Aisha Garba, who attended the event on behalf of the commission, described the outreach as an important educational intervention.
Gold said the programme helped students understand the purpose of sanitary pads and encouraged boys to recognise menstruation as a normal biological process rather than a disease or something girls should be ashamed of.
He noted that initiatives that help children remain in school and participate fully in learning are important to basic education.
Gold said the reusable pads and mathematical sets distributed to students demonstrated how community organisations could contribute to creating a more supportive learning environment.
He added that he would report the initiative to UBEC, where it could be discussed alongside other interventions aimed at improving access to education.
According to him, the commission could examine the approach and consider how similar initiatives might be supported or extended through relevant education structures.
KUCHIGORO STUDENTS WELCOME THE OUTREACH
The principal of Junior Secondary School, Kuchigoro, Mrs Theresa Ngozi Mbanefo, also spoke at the event, highlighting the importance of the intervention for students and the school community.
SUGGESTED SPEECH FOR THE PRINCIPAL
“On behalf of the management, teachers and students of Junior Secondary School, Kuchigoro, I sincerely appreciate Connected Development and HumanX for bringing this important initiative to our school.
“This outreach is more than the distribution of reusable sanitary pads and educational materials. It is an opportunity to educate our students about personal hygiene, reproductive health, dignity and mutual respect.
“Menstruation is a natural part of a girl’s development, and no student should feel ashamed, discriminated against or discouraged from attending school because of her period.
“I am particularly pleased that the boys are also part of this education. When boys understand menstruation, they can support their female classmates, discourage teasing and help create a school environment where every student feels safe and respected.
“We appreciate the reusable pads and mathematical sets provided to our students. These materials will support their personal hygiene and learning needs.
“We encourage our students to apply the knowledge they have gained and share the right information with their peers.
“We thank CODE and HumanX for remembering our students and contributing to their education and well-being.”
STUDENTS EXPRESS GRATITUDE
Adina Muhammed Mubarak, a student of Junior Secondary School, Kuchigoro, said the outreach had helped the boys understand menstruation better and recognise the importance of supporting girls during their periods.
ADINA MUHAMMED MUBARAK STUDENT THANKED THE ORGANIZERS FOR THE INITIATIVE
“I want to thank Connected Development and HumanX for coming to our school to teach us about menstruation and provide us with educational materials.
“Today, we have learnt that menstruation is not a disease and that girls should not be laughed at or embarrassed when they are on their periods.
“As boys, we have learnt that we should respect girls and help them when they need assistance instead of making fun of them.
“We also appreciate the mathematical sets and other school materials given to us. They will help us in our studies.
“We are grateful to CODE and HumanX for thinking about us and teaching us things that will help us become better students and support one another.”
Another student, Salisu Suraiyatu Hassan, who is in Junior Secondary School Three, said the reusable pads would help her manage her menstrual period and that she appreciated the organisers for providing the products and educating the students.
STUDENT SALISU SURA IYATU HASSAN EXPRESS HER HAPPINESS
“I am happy that Connected Development and HumanX came to our school to educate us about menstrual hygiene and distribute reusable pads.
“I have learnt more about menstruation and the importance of keeping myself clean during my period.
“The reusable pads will help me manage my periods better, and I am grateful because they can be washed and reused according to the proper instructions.
“I also appreciate the organisers for teaching the boys that menstruation is natural and that girls should not be ashamed or bullied because of it.
“I thank CODE and HumanX for supporting us with these materials and for helping us understand how to take care of ourselves.”
ENDING MENSTRUAL STIGMA THROUGH EDUCATION
Menstrual health remains an important part of girls’ education, dignity and well-being. When students lack access to menstrual hygiene products or face embarrassment and discrimination during their periods, their comfort, participation and ability to concentrate in school may be affected.
Reusable menstrual pads can offer a practical option for managing periods, provided girls receive adequate guidance on washing, drying, storage and safe reuse.
Equally important is ensuring that menstrual education reaches both boys and girls. Boys who understand menstruation are better positioned to challenge harmful stereotypes, respond compassionately to emergencies and contribute to a school culture built on respect.
By combining the distribution of menstrual hygiene products with reproductive health education, the CODE-HumanX partnership is seeking to address both the practical and social challenges surrounding menstruation.
The Kuchigoro outreach also highlighted the importance of collaboration between civil society organisations, schools and education authorities in supporting students, particularly girls in underserved communities.
For the students who participated, the initiative offered not only access to reusable pads and educational materials but also an opportunity to learn that menstruation should never be a reason for shame, ridicule or exclusion from education.
Source: Media360Impact Report.
